Chapter 17
LESSON FOURTH ON CREATION
32. Q. Who created heaven and earth, and all things?
A. G.o.d created heaven and earth, and all things.
33. Q. How did G.o.d create heaven and earth?
A. G.o.d created heaven and earth from nothing by His word only; that is, by a single act of His all-powerful will.
34. Q. Which are the chief creatures of G.o.d?
A. The chief creatures of G.o.d are angels and men.
35. Q. What are angels?
A. Angels are pure spirits without a body, created to adore and enjoy G.o.d in heaven.
36. Q. Were the angels created for any other purpose?
A. The angels were also created to a.s.sist before the throne of G.o.d and to minister unto Him; they have often been sent as messengers from G.o.d to man; and are also appointed our guardians.
37. Q. Were the angels, as G.o.d created them, good and happy?
A. The angels, as G.o.d created them, were good and happy.
38. Q. Did all the angels remain good and happy?
A. All the angels did not remain good and happy; many of them sinned and were cast into h.e.l.l, and these are called devils or bad angels.
LESSON FIFTH ON OUR FIRST PARENTS AND THE FALL
39. Q. Who were the first man and woman?
A. The first man and woman were Adam and Eve.
40. Q. Were Adam and Eve innocent and holy when they came from the hand of G.o.d?
A. Adam and Eve were innocent and holy when they came from the hand of G.o.d.
41. Q. Did G.o.d give any command to Adam and Eve?
A. To try their obedience G.o.d commanded Adam and Eve not to eat of a certain fruit which grew in the garden of Paradise.
42. Q. Which were the chief blessings intended for Adam and Eve had they remained faithful to G.o.d?
A. The chief blessings intended for Adam and Eve, had they remained faithful to G.o.d, were a constant state of happiness in this life and everlasting glory in the next.
43. Q. Did Adam and Eve remain faithful to G.o.d?
A. Adam and Eve did not remain faithful to G.o.d; but broke His command by eating the forbidden fruit.
44. Q. What befell Adam and
A. Adam and Eve, on account of their sin, lost innocence and holiness, and were doomed to sickness and death.
45. Q. What evil befell us on account of the disobedience of our first parents?
A. On account of the disobedience of our first parents, we all share in their sin and punishment, as we should have shared in their happiness if they had remained faithful.
46. Q. What other effects followed from the sin of our first parents?
A. Our nature was corrupted by the sin of our first parents, which darkened our understanding, weakened our will, and left in us a strong inclination to evil.
47. Q. What is the sin called which we inherit from our first parents?
A. The sin which we inherit from our first parents is called original sin.
48. Q. Why is this sin called original?
A. This sin is called original because it comes down to us from our first parents, and we are brought into the world with its guilt on our soul.
49. Q. Does this corruption of our nature remain in us after original sin is forgiven?
A. This corruption of our nature and other punishments remain in us after original sin is forgiven.
50. Q. Was any one ever preserved from original sin?
A. The Blessed Virgin Mary, through the merits of her Divine Son, was preserved free from the guilt of original sin, and this privilege is called her Immaculate Conception.
LESSON SIXTH ON SIN AND ITS KINDS
51. Q. Is original sin the only kind of sin?
A. Original sin is not the only kind of sin; there is another kind of sin, which we commit ourselves, called actual sin.
52. Q. What is actual sin?
A. Actual sin is any wilful thought, word, deed, or omission contrary to the law of G.o.d.
53. Q. How many kinds of actual sin are there?
A. There are two kinds of actual sin--mortal and venial.
54. Q. What is mortal sin?
A. Mortal sin is a grievous offense against the law of G.o.d.
55. Q. Why is this sin called mortal?
A. This sin is called mortal because it deprives us of spiritual life, which is sanctifying grace, and brings everlasting death and d.a.m.nation on the soul.
56. Q. How many things are necessary to make a sin mortal?
A. To make a sin mortal three things are necessary: a grievous matter, sufficient reflection, and full consent of the will.
57. Q. What is venial sin?
A. Venial sin is a slight offense against the law of G.o.d in matters of less importance, or in matters of great importance it is an offense committed without sufficient reflection or full consent of the will.
58. Q. Which are the effects of venial sin?
A. The effects of venial sin are the lessening of the love of G.o.d in our heart, the making us less worthy of His help, and the weakening of the power to resist mortal sin.
59. Q. Which are the chief sources of sin?
A. The chief sources of sin are seven: Pride, Covetousness, l.u.s.t, Anger, Gluttony, Envy, and Sloth; and they are commonly called capital sins.